Tenney undecided on GOP health care bill

It is no surprise that New York Democrats Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand do not support the Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

But newly elected Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford, who is committed to repealing the Affordable Care Act, still is making up her mind on how to vote on the Republican bill, she said.

“I am currently reviewing the American Heath Care Act, a reform initiative proposed to alleviate the pressures Obamacare has put on patients, providers and taxpayers,” Tenney said in a statement. “The proposals in the American Health Care Act will lower premiums by 10 percent, reduce taxes by $883 billion and reduce the federal deficit by $337 billion — a significant step in the right direction.

“I will continue to listen to constituents in the 22nd District as the House carefully considers this legislation and any future bills to improve and restore our health care system for all.”

Tenney's primary concern with the American Health Care Act has to do with the burden of Medicaid cost sharing on property owners in her district, said Hannah Andrews, Tenney's press secretary. Next year, Oneida County is expected to spend $57 million on its share of Medicaid, which was expanded in New York under the Affordable Care Act, Andrews said.

So Tenney wants a plan that's going to bring down those costs for counties, Andrews said. But she's still reviewing the possibility of rolling back the Medicaid expansion, Andrews said.

Tenney supports an amendment to the bill proposed by Rep. Chris Collins that would force states to cover what now is the counties' share of Medicaid expenses.

“If that comes through, it would make it a little easier,” Andrews said. “But they're still proposing changes.”

And if Republicans make any other changes to the bill, Tenney would, of course, carefully review them all, Andrews said.

The American Health Care Act bill passed the House Budget Committee on Thursday and has to go through the Rules Committee next. Speaker Paul Ryan has said that Republicans are willing to talk to their colleagues about amendments to the bill, which has proved controversial among moderate and conservative Republicans, not to mention Democrats.

The Republican bill would reduce the federal deficit by $337 billion between 2017 and 2026, and increase the number of uninsured by 24 million in that same timeframe, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office released Monday.

In a scathing speech delivered on the Senate floor on Tuesday, Schumer vowed that Democrats would “fight tooth and nail” against the plan and Republican ACA repeal efforts.

“A health care bill actually attempts to provide health insurance to more Americans,” Schumer said in the speech. “This bill would result in 24 million fewer Americans with health insurance. A health care bill would help average people afford health insurance. This bill would likely increase costs on middle-class and working Americans while making it cheaper for the top 1 percent and 0.1 percent.”

It also would increase expenses for older Americans and, according to the CBO analysis, make comparison shopping between plans harder, he said.

After the American Health Care Act was released, Gillibrand released a statement of disagreement, which read, in part, “I believe health care is a human right and that Americans should never be denied access to quality, affordable health care. President Trump's health care proposal would force middle class families and seniors to pay more money for less care and leave more people uninsured, all while giving huge tax breaks to insurance companies and the highest wage earners. It would cripple state budgets by cutting Medicaid funding and would give health insurance companies a special tax break for CEOs who make over a half million dollars.”

While Tenney hasn't made up her mind yet about the Republican plan, she remains fierce in her opposition to the status quo in the form of the Affordable Care Act.

“Obamacare has hurt the American people,” she said in the statement. “From skyrocketing deductibles to out-of-control premiums, Americans across the country have lost access to the affordable, quality health care they deserve. Obamacare has also denied consumers the ability and freedom to choose a plan that fits their needs, while placing costly burdens on hard-working Americans. As a result of Obamacare, 4.7 million Americans have been kicked off their health care plans.”

Tenney directed constituents interested in the issue to go to www.readthebill.gop and to then call her office or visit her website at tenney.house.gov to give feedback.

Follow @OD_Roth on Twitter or call her at 315-792-5166.

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